Dear Deacon John,
We’re rolling into another weekend – and another excellent opportunity to go out to the closest 40 Days for Life vigil!
If you’ve never taken part before, I’d like to officially invite you to do so. Yes, it does involve stepping out of your comfort zone and overcoming the natural fear of doing something different. But it’s stepping out in faith! You can do it!
If you’ve never taken part before, I’d like to officially invite you to do so. Yes, it does involve stepping out of your comfort zone and overcoming the natural fear of doing something different. But it’s stepping out in faith! You can do it!
Check for the location of the nearest 40 Days for Life campaign and pray for an end to abortion!
Here are some stories from just a few of the 253 communities taking part.
Mobile, Alabama
Abortions are done on Fridays at the Planned Parenthood facility in Mobile. “So we have scheduled a prayer service led by a different local church each Friday during 40 Days for Life,” said Dan, the local coordinator.
The photo shows the first of this series of Friday services, a Mass that was offered on the sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood.
“We have had a good start to the campaign,” Dan said. “We have three saves reported that we know of.”
Brighton, Michigan
The photo shows the first of this series of Friday services, a Mass that was offered on the sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood.
“We have had a good start to the campaign,” Dan said. “We have three saves reported that we know of.”
Brighton, Michigan
“Sixteen of us were at
the vigil today,” said Janelle, who came with other members of her
church to pray at the 40 Days for Life location in Brighton. “God is doing amazing things!”
Tom, the local coordinator in Brighton, was thankful to see Janelle and her friends. They arrived a little late, he said, but understood that “it just took a little longer to get everyone into the Richfield Church van!”
He said the 16 people at the weekday vigil “was a record for sure.” Tom met the group and explained a bit about 40 Days for Life and its history, both internationally at the Planned Parenthood center in Brighton.
Janelle said, “We were blessed to be involved today.” Tom responded, “Ditto Janelle, from all of us in Brighton!”
Cincinnati, Ohio
Tom, the local coordinator in Brighton, was thankful to see Janelle and her friends. They arrived a little late, he said, but understood that “it just took a little longer to get everyone into the Richfield Church van!”
He said the 16 people at the weekday vigil “was a record for sure.” Tom met the group and explained a bit about 40 Days for Life and its history, both internationally at the Planned Parenthood center in Brighton.
Janelle said, “We were blessed to be involved today.” Tom responded, “Ditto Janelle, from all of us in Brighton!”
Cincinnati, Ohio
The Cincinnati campaign held a belated kickoff rally – the first one they scheduled was postponed because of icy weather.
Theresa in Cincinnati said she has often been pleasantly surprised to find 10 or more people who simply decided to come to the sidewalk outside the abortion center to pray.
People walking by are expressing their support, and the team is hearing sometimes months later that lives have been saved. “Let us give thanks and humbly open our eyes and hearts to the graces that are taking place throughout the globe,” Theresa said. “Our presence makes a difference.”
Theresa in Cincinnati said she has often been pleasantly surprised to find 10 or more people who simply decided to come to the sidewalk outside the abortion center to pray.
People walking by are expressing their support, and the team is hearing sometimes months later that lives have been saved. “Let us give thanks and humbly open our eyes and hearts to the graces that are taking place throughout the globe,” Theresa said. “Our presence makes a difference.”
Today's devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.
Day 11 intention
Pray that people of faith will have their strength renewed even in the face of the violence of abortion.
Scripture
The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent. They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait in silence for the saving help of the Lord.
— Lamentations 3:22-26
Reflection by Fr. Frank Pavone
The Book of Lamentations, a short book of only five chapters, contains some of the most poignant expressions of human grief.
These verses are used in many Churches on Good Friday, since they can be seen to express a prophecy of the suffering of the Lord and the lamentation of his followers on that dark day.
But in the midst of his grief, Jeremiah writes the verses quoted above. "The favors of the Lord are not exhausted." It is a call to hope that no matter how much violence there is, life will prevail in the end.
Why does he say, however, that God's mercies are renewed each morning?
Because early in the morning, on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb — and they found that the events of that morning changed everything.
Christ's victory over death came in the morning, and therefore each day we can renew our confidence that life has the final victory.
Prayer
Lord, look kindly on your people who weep and mourn amidst the vast devastation that abortion has brought upon our land. We cannot even count the children killed, and the mothers and fathers wounded.
We cannot measure the devastation and corruption abortion has brought upon the very fabric of our society. But we declare today that your favors have not been exhausted, your mercies have not been spent. They are renewed each morning.
Give us new strength today in the resurrection of Christ your Son, that we may bear effective witness to the victory of life! In His name we pray, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/
Day 11 intention
Pray that people of faith will have their strength renewed even in the face of the violence of abortion.
Scripture
The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent. They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait in silence for the saving help of the Lord.
— Lamentations 3:22-26
Reflection by Fr. Frank Pavone
The Book of Lamentations, a short book of only five chapters, contains some of the most poignant expressions of human grief.
These verses are used in many Churches on Good Friday, since they can be seen to express a prophecy of the suffering of the Lord and the lamentation of his followers on that dark day.
But in the midst of his grief, Jeremiah writes the verses quoted above. "The favors of the Lord are not exhausted." It is a call to hope that no matter how much violence there is, life will prevail in the end.
Why does he say, however, that God's mercies are renewed each morning?
Because early in the morning, on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb — and they found that the events of that morning changed everything.
Christ's victory over death came in the morning, and therefore each day we can renew our confidence that life has the final victory.
Prayer
Lord, look kindly on your people who weep and mourn amidst the vast devastation that abortion has brought upon our land. We cannot even count the children killed, and the mothers and fathers wounded.
We cannot measure the devastation and corruption abortion has brought upon the very fabric of our society. But we declare today that your favors have not been exhausted, your mercies have not been spent. They are renewed each morning.
Give us new strength today in the resurrection of Christ your Son, that we may bear effective witness to the victory of life! In His name we pray, Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/
For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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PS:
Has overcoming challenges been one of the blessings at your 40 Days for
Life campaign? If you have any good news to share, please comment on
today's blog entry at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/
